Penrith will go into their crucial clash with Canberra boosted by news Trent Merrin will make an early return and Anthony Griffin will be the club's long-term coach.

The Sydney Roosters survived an almighty scare from a resurgent Wests Tigers to avoid being on the wrong end of what would have been the upset of the season on Saturday night.

Canberra's Ben Cummins will become just the sixth whistle-blower in history to have reached a triple-century of NRL games.

Canberra Raiders' Viking clap to hit the Richter scale for crucial Penrith clash in bid to make finals.

Daly Cherry-Evans has experienced the "craziness" that is being coached by Des Hasler.

The rugby league players' union claims it isn't being greedy after refusing to take the NRL's pay offer to its members, declaring the collective bargaining agreement is "about so much more than the finances".

Elliott Whitehead is expecting to slide back to an edge if he makes Wayne Bennett's England World Cup squad.

South Sydney will boast one of the most potent backlines in 2018 with the likes of Greg Inglis, Alex Johnston and Dane Gagai.

St George-Illawarra big man Tariq Sims says he won't accept talk of missing the NRL finals until the whistle has blown on their season after a difficult defeat at the hands of Brisbane.

Gold Coast and NSW hooker Nathan Peats says it would be unfair if Neil Henry was sacked.

The Broncos continued their quality run with a predictable 24-12 win at Suncorp Stadium that leaves the Dragons on the outside looking in once again.

Parramatta's top four aspirations have hit another road block with fullback Bevan French not expected to return to the paddock until at least the first week of the finals.

Hopes of finalising the NRL collective bargaining agreement on Monday are now over with the Rugby League Players Association deciding against taking a $1 billion proposal to the players next week.

It's the unlikely match - a jockey and a hard-nosed footballer.

While dual citizenship is a dirty word for politicians, Raiders big bopper Junior Paulo has three World Cup doors open.

The balance of power between NRL coach and player has irrevocably tilted towards the player, reflected in doubts over the future of Bulldogs coach Des Hasler and Gold Coast's Neil Henry, and following Wests Tigers' sacking of Jason Taylor after round three this year.

The Sydney Roosters have been buoyed with Michael Gordon and Blake Ferguson both cleared for Saturday's NRL clash with the Wests Tigers.

Sio Siua Taukeiaho is another shining example of the Roosters' player welfare program.

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy hopes to have star duo Cameron Munster and Tohu Harris back for the clash with Newcastle Knights in Newcastle on Saturday.